Improved caepet-fastener



` @eine gratte atrnt ffrt'.

GEORGE E. WEST AND WILLIAM R. N N IN GHAM, OF LAFAYETTE, INDIANA. Lena-S Patent No. 70,055,.daaa omar 22, 18ct.

' IMPROVED CARPET-FASTENER.

TO ALL WIIOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that w'e, GEORGE E. Wl-:srand WILLAM R. CUNNINGHAM, ot' Lafayette, in the county of Tippecanoe, andStatc of Indiana, Vhave invented new and useful improvements in the Mode of Fastening Carpets; and we do hereby declare that thcrfollowing is a'fulhelear., and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, making part of this specifica-tion, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a se'ction of the base-beard of a room, with our device for fastening the carpet theretoV attached.

Figure 2 is a transverse section ofthe sa'mc.

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the device as it may be applied when putting down the base in new houses.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.v

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents the ordinary base-board used in buildings, F is the door, and E the carpet. l

Our improvement consists in attaching a narrow strip lof board, C, to the base A, say three or four inches from the loor. 'lhe strip C may be moulded in any desired ornamental pattern. Tothe lower edge of strip CA another narrow strip of' heard, D, is hinged, as shown at G. This strip extends down to near the floor, 1eaving merely the space between them required for the thickness of the carpet, and thisshould be such that wht 1 the strip B is in the position to fasten the carpet as shown it will press thelatter firmly to the loor. The rear bottom edge of strip B is bevellcd as shown, and a strip or tongue of hoop iron, D, is set atan angle in a kerf cut in the strip as shown. This strip of iron may have not-ches, if desired, cutat intervals along its lower edge, somewhat like saw-teeth, so that it will hold the carpet more eectively. I i

In putting down the base in new houses the strip B may be attached directly. to the base A, as shown in fig. 3, omitting thestrip C, the latter being Vessential only when the device is applied in` houses already built, as shown in figs. 1 and 2. We prefer, however, attaching our device to the base by means of the strip C, setting thebase an inch or two from the floor, as in'ig. 3, to forma recess, I, to receive whatever surplus of the edge of the carpet may be taken up in the process of stretching it. The appearance of thedevice thus attached would notbefebjectionable, and, besides, it affords a convenient and 'practicable mode of adjusting the device to the floor when the shrinking of the floor timbers makes it necessary to do so, in which event the strip C may bc y taken ofi` and set down to the proper position. In houses already built the front loweredge of the base is gcnerally rabbeted, as shown in fig. 2, to lset into the shoe or carpet strip which is usually nailed to the floor to make a finish, and in applying our device inw'such cases this rabbet forms the reccssI, to receive the edge of the carpet. l

The strip B may be made in sections of any desired or convenient length, and 'may be hinged to the strip C or base A with any style of hinge, or in any manner to make the hinges least conspicuous. When the carpet is to be put down the strips B are turned up, so that the edge of the carpet may be put under it and within reach of the iron strip or tongue D. The strip D is then turned down and pressed back against the base A, which stretches the carpet evenly and tightly, andat the s ame time clamps it iirmly between the lower edge of strip B i andthe loor.

The advantages of this mode of fastening carpets are that they arc more easily and expeditiously put down ortaken up; the strip B pressing iirmly down upon it prevents. the collection and accumulation of dirt around ,the-edges, as in other modes; itis not frayed or injured by driving-or drawing the tacks; and by the act of fastening it is more evenly stretched at the edges, and is also more firmly held. 'lhc strips B may be fastened with screws as shown, or spring .hooks II may be driven into the base and project through mortises in the strips to hold them, as shown in iig. 3. i Y

Having thus fully described our invention, whatwe claim as new, and dcsireto secure by Letters Patent, is The combination of the strips B and C with the tongue D, all arranged with the `base A, as described, for the purpose specified.

. GEORGE E. WEST,

WILLIAM It. CUNNINGHAM.

Witnesses:

WM. J. CUNNINGHAM, W.l S. IEcKnAM. 

